Chapter 35 – The Dagger in The Bag (6)
The awl in a pocket will eventually reveal its sharpness by tearing the pocket, even if it does nothing. From that perspective, Sua was an excellent awl.
Thanks to the enlightenment gained a few days ago, the depth of her martial arts had significantly deepened. She could even finally unfold the sword skill secret technique that she couldn’t use before.
It was certainly an incredible achievement for her age, and she could have walked with her shoulders held high, but for some reason, Sua always maintained a humble attitude.
‘Well, if one is a martial artist, that would be appropriate. In this harsh martial world, one must at least become a Supreme peak to hold one’s head high. In that sense, both I and Sua still have a long and difficult path ahead.’
“I’ve never seen someone achieve that level of accomplishment at such a young age. Moreover, to be so humble…”
Having finished all the chores, Namgung-yeon watched Sua unfold her secret technique and spoke with a surprised expression. However, I found Namgung-yeon’s skills more surprising.
Praises about Sua’s talent had already become so repetitive that I was now used to them. But Namgung-yeon’s household skills were completely unexpected.
Although it was quite small compared to the Sunmoo Academy, this place was still a location that the Evil sect had intended to use as a school. For a residence, it was quite spacious.
Originally, before Namgung-yeon arrived, everyone would share household chores, and cleaning alone would take half a day. Yet he finished everything in just three hours?
‘Could this be a master above Supreme PeakSupreme peak who has been reborn as a child….’
I quickly dismissed that thought, as there was no reason for a master above Supreme PeakSupreme peak to be doing cleaning in a place like this.
“Do you have time to play around? Have you done all the laundry?”
“Yes! I’ve done it all!”
“The cleaning… Is done. Then go quickly and cook some rice.”
“Understood!!”
Sua could no longer even get angry at Namgung-yeon’s skills, and her words trailed off. It had been about half a month since Namgung-yeon arrived here, and it was about time to say something.
He wasn’t just any ordinary person, but from the Namgung family, one of the five great families. Although he might be from a branch family with less prominence, the fact that he was here in Hanam suggested otherwise.
In any case, it meant the Namgung family had pushed him to enter the Sunmoo Academy. Therefore, the possibility of him being from a branch family was very low. Or he was exceptionally talented even as a branch family member.
“Um… We’re out of rice?”
“Then you should go out and buy some right away?”
“Well, by myself, it’s a bit…”
“Sua, go with Namgung-yeon.”
“Yes, Master.”
For reasons unknown, Namgung-yeon seemed very reluctant to go outside. Perhaps he was being pursued by someone. That’s why he was assigned to accompany Sua.
I was originally going to go with them, but Sua would strongly object. She had already opposed me helping with household chores, and her reasons were even valid.
“By simply accepting someone who hasn’t revealed their purpose and providing meals, we have already done our duty. So shouldn’t we at least earn our keep?”
Since her words were not entirely wrong, and Sua had not been overly harsh to Namgung-yeon, I had no choice but to entrust everything regarding Namgung-yeon to her.
Namgung-yeon didn’t seem to think he was being treated unfairly. Although he showed a slightly fearful demeanor, he still followed Sua’s instructions without much resistance.
“Then we’ll go right away.”
“W-we’ll go, great master.”
“Be careful on your way.”
Having completed their preparations, Sua and Namgung-yeon set off to the market. Left alone, Seolhwa looked at me with her characteristic red eyes and a sticky gaze.
“Now it’s just the two of us, Master.”
“That’s right.”
“Then there’s only one thing we need to do immediately, isn’t there?”
“Of course, training.”
No matter how I thought about it, there was nothing else. Especially Seolhwa could accumulate internal energy at an incredible speed due to her sword heart technique and unique poison arts, but her understanding of martial arts was very lacking.
In other words, her comprehension was severely deficient. It was somewhat unavoidable since she had been confined and unable to learn from a young age. However, I couldn’t just let it pass.
“You still have many insufficiencies. Moreover, you have so much to learn, so there’s no time to waste.”
“What’s that…”
“What did you say?”
“Oh, no. Nothing! Master.”
â—‡
At first, she wanted to monopolize the Master for herself, but Sua soon realized that would be difficult. An awl in a pocket reveals itself, after all.
Then, as a disciple, she could only trust and follow the Master. Even if she had no idea what the Master was aiming for. Still, it didn’t matter.
If the Master says the moon is the sun, then from that moment, the moon becomes the sun. If the Master says night is day, then from that moment, night becomes day. Sua’s belief was close to blind faith.
“…Ten, no, eleven people.”
“Yes?”
“The number of people stuck to our tail.”
Thanks to reaching the first-class realm, Sua’s sharpened senses could easily determine the number of martial artists following them. Upon hearing those words, Namgung-yeon’s face turned pale.
“We, we must run away quickly! Otherwise, we’ll be taken back there again…!!”
“It’s already too late. We’re surrounded front and back. It seems they were waiting for us to enter this alley.”
To go to the market, they inevitably had to use this alley. They were likely lying in ambush here, aiming for that. How meticulously annoying…
If it were up to me, I would have liked to hand over Namgung-yeon to them without resistance. Unfortunately, that was impossible because I was directly ordered by the Master.
Thinking they had already won just by blocking the escape route, they approached confidently. Their clothing was diverse and varied.
Even the weapons they held were equally diverse – swords, spears, blades, bows, and more. Sua quickly understood the reason.
“Ah! Were these martial artists sent by someone from the Sunmoo Academy? Perhaps to avoid being held responsible, they’ve carefully selected and mixed people from various sects of the righteous sect.”
Not from a single sect, but mixed from multiple sects. This would make it difficult to assign blame if issues arose later. Because the opponent is not a single sect, but the righteous sect itself.
Naturally, the mastermind would not have revealed their name to these people. It would be problematic if their name became known. Sua realized all these facts the moment she saw them.
As a result, she was trembling with disgust beyond the sect’s imagination. The martial artists momentarily stirred after being seen through, but soon one of them stepped forward and spoke.
“We do not wish to cause trouble. We are simply here to escort the young lady of the Namgung family.”
“I don’t understand what you’re saying. Moreover, I’m a man….”
“You’re an excellent male disguise, but is there anyone among us who doesn’t know the young lady’s face?”
“Have these people collectively eaten poison? Who are you to just claim you’re taking someone away?”
The young martial artist’s words, spoken as if taking her was already decided, made Sua feel her blood rising. Nevertheless, they continued with an indifferent attitude.
“So what will you do? Are you planning to defeat all of us?”
“Be careful not to scratch that beautiful face while causing a scene.”
“Knowing when to retreat is never shameful, young lady.”
“…..”
I see. Is this how the Master felt when looking at my past self?
Certainly, the numerical advantage was clearly on their side. There were over ten people, and she even had someone to protect. However, that didn’t mean I would lose.
Flash Cloud-Splitting Sword, Second Form: Lightning Seven Strikes
In an instant, she drew the wooden sword from her waist, and seven branching flashes simultaneously struck the heads of the young martial artists standing confidently.
A technique that had already been recognized for its speed even in the Murong family, when reaching the first-class realm, was literally wielded at lightning speed. The opponents were not weak either.
As they say, even a dying fish is still a fish. As martial artists who entered the Sunmoo Academy, each of them was a second-class martial artist. However, that was not enough to narrow the gap.
“No way. Just one initial technique took down seven people?!”
“A martial artist capable of this… Could it be she has reached the first-class realm at that age?!”
“At first, I didn’t understand. Why would the Master come all the way to this distant Hanam land?”
There was no need to come to Hanam when the Murong family would have been sufficient. The emotions I felt then were half doubt, and the other half was anxiety about losing the Master.
But experiencing it directly.
I clearly understood the reason.
The Master intends to change this rotten martial world through teaching.
Just as I was able to escape arrogance thanks to the Master’s teachings.
